UNHCR has created a symbolic football team for the 2026 World Cup spotlighting players with refugee backgrounds. It includes Iraq international Ali Al-Hamadi, who grew up in Liverpool.
For many football fans, the World Cup represents the pinnacle of sporting excellence. However, for a unique team assembled by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the tournament represents far more than athletic achievement. The 'Gamechanging Team' serves as a global symbol for the experiences of people who have been forced to flee their homes due to war, violence, and persecution. Many of these players have traveled long, arduous paths, moving from refugee camps far from the public eye to the international stage.
Ali Al-Hamadi, a member of the Gamechanging Team and current Luton Town FC player, considers his role a significant privilege. Having fled Iraq with his family at a young age before settling in Liverpool, Al-Hamadi recalls that football was a vital support system for his community. 'Football was the thing that brought a lot of people together in my community, people who maybe grew up in difficult circumstances,' he said. For Al-Hamadi, the sport provided a vital escape from the realities of the challenges he and his family faced. 'I've always been an advocate for refugee work,' he added, noting that for a team with such a global impact, he strives to give back to the community and to those who have undergone similar journeys.
Leading the team is captain Alphonso Davies, who is also a star of the Canada men's national team. Davies, born in a refugee camp in Ghana after his parents fled conflict in Liberia, acknowledges the special nature of leading this squad. 'It's truly amazing to lead a symbolic team,' Davies remarked. 'Having similar background as me, you know, it's truly something special. To have the same story and to be where they are today, it's something that speaks for itself.'
Beyond the symbolic nature of the team, the UNHCR emphasizes that sport plays a crucial role in supporting young refugees. By promoting inclusion, confidence, and physical well-being, organized athletics can foster a much-needed sense of belonging for those displaced from their homes. Through this initiative, the agency hopes to stand in solidarity with displaced children globally, demonstrating the potential that can be realized when young people are given a safe space to rebuild their lives and pursue new opportunities.
